Tool for repairing jar-covers.



No. 769,716- PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904. F. A. ROTHGERY.

TOOL FOR REPAIRING JAR COVERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. a. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

INVENTOR BY Mm,

Affornexy FRANK A. ROTHGERY,

Patented September 13, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TOOL FOR REPAIRING JAR-COVERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,716, dated September 13, 1904.

Application filed November 9, 1903. Serial No. 180,446. (No model.)

To all whmn it 71mg concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK A. ROTHGERY, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tools for Repairing Jar-Covers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany- 1 ing drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention consists of a tool used to straighten and re-form the metal tops of fruitjars and similar receptacles that have been bent or otherwise made unfit for use.

In opening a fruit-jar it is common practice to insert a blade under the edge of the cover, and such practice results in bending up the edge, so that when next used an air-tight joint is not formed.

The object of this invention is to take out the bends so made, so as to produce a true fit at the subsequent use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device applied to the top of a fruit-jar, and Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively top and bottom plan views of the tool.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the screw-top of a fruit jar is indicated at 6. The tool consists of a wire ring or spanner 7,which is formed to extend around the cap of the jar and which is formed at its ends into hooks 8. A plate 9, having a stiffening-rib 10, forms the handle of the device, and this plate is bent up at the front end, as at 11, forminga flange having a bayonet'slot 12 to receive the hooks of the spanner. On the under side of the plate and so positioned as to project slightly beyond the front end thereof is a roller or button 13, which rotates on a pivot-rivet 14, fixed to the plate. The edge of this roller is properly shaped to lit in the groove formed I at the lower edge of the flange of the jar-cap and in use bears upon the flaring rim at the lower edge of such flange. The spanner is made of spring-wire, so that by compression it may be detached or removed through the mouth of the bayonet-slot.

In use the spanner is first placed around the jar-cap and the handle portion is then hooked on by entry of the hooks into the slot, thus holding the tool onto the cap with the roller bearing upon the flange-rim thereof. Then by working the device around the cap and by suitable pressure on the handle the button smoothes or flattens down the bends or kinks in the rim and re-forms the same, so that it contacts tightly with the rubber gasket used on such jars and forms an airtight joint. The loose connection between the spanner and the handle carrying the roller permits a limited amount of play or vertical movement to the handle, so that the roller adapts itself to the form, distance, and inclination of the flange.

IVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A tool of the kind stated, comprising a spanner, and a handle loosely connected thereto and movable angular-1y with respect thereto, having a roller on the under side thereof arranged to bear upon the flange of a jar-cover.

2. A tool of the kind stated, comprising a spanner, a handle having a loose joint therewith, and a straightening-piece at the inner end of the handle, arranged to bear upon the flange of a jar-cover.

3. A tool of the kind stated comprising a spanner having hooks at the ends, a handle having projections engaged by the hooks, and a roller on the under side of the handle, as and forthe purpose described.

In testimony whereof I do aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK A. ROTHGERY.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN A. BOMMIIARDT, Lor'rm NEWBUEN. 

